THE AUDITORIUM SUNDAY
SCHOOL CLASS
APRIL 10TH, 2005
THE PURPOSE OF GOD’S
LAW
Introduction - “....and in thy seed shall all the nations of
the earth be blessed....” (Genesis 26:4).
I. The Law and the Seed (3:19-20)
A.
The Law was “added” (19) to the Abrahamic Covenant:
1.
“Because of transgressions” - going across God’s boundaries.
2.
The Law was designed to restrain fallen man from practicing every evil
desire.
3.
The Law was a visible demonstration of how far man has fallen from God’s
standard of righteousness, (Romans
5:13).
B.
The Law was temporary (19) - “till
the seed should come to whom the promise was made.”
1.
The Lord Jesus Christ is “the seed.”
(3:16)
2.
The Law was added to the Abrahamic Covenant (beginning) and continued
until the cross of Christ (ending) - see Colossians 2:14 and Ephesians 2:15.
3.
The purpose of the Law was to show man his need of a savior, the seed of
the Abrahamic Covenant.
C.
The Law needed a mediator (19).
1.
The Mediator was Moses.
- He represented God before the people, and
he represented the people before God.
2.
God and Israel did not speak directly to each other.
3.
Angels took an active part in giving the Law (19).
- Stephen claimed that Israel received the
Law with the help of angels. (Acts
7:53).
- Moses claimed that when God gave him the
Law on Mount Sinai that angels played a part, (Deuteronomy 33:2 and Psalm 68:17).
4.
So, the CONDITIONAL covenant of the Law needed a mediator (Moses) to
represent both parties.
D.
The Abrahamic Covenant needed no mediator, (3:20).
1.
God is the Giver, and has promised to give the blessings of the
covenant.
2.
The intended recipient can accept or reject the gift, but he cannot add
or subtract from the gift because he is not the giver.
E.
Jesus Christ (the seed of the Abrahamic Covenant) has become the
mediator of the Law between God and man, (I Timothy 2:5).
1.
Jesus Christ brings God and man together.
2.
Jesus represents God to man, and man to God - (II Corinthians 5:19).
3.
When we approach God, we do so in the name of our Mediator, Jesus
Christ.
II. The Law and the Promises (3:21-22)
A.
Is the Law an enemy of God’s promises?
(21)
1.
Paul responds with “God forbid.”
2.
The Law was not given to replace or add to God’s promises in the
Abrahamic Covenant; it was given to prepare man for the promise of the
Abrahamic Covenant.
B.
The Law cannot give life (21).
1.
If man could have been made righteous by the Law, then God would have
given the Law to make men righteous.
2.
But the Law only reveals the sinfulness of man and his need of a savior
(Romans 8:3-4).
C.
The Law prepares man to receive the Promise (22).
1.
“Hath concluded” means to shut up like a fish in a net.
- All men are equally caught in the net and
dominion of sin.
2.
Everyone must be declared guilty in order for God to have mercy on
everyone (Romans 11:32).
3.
“That the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that
believe.” (22).
- The Promise is not given to them that work (Romans 4:5), but to those who believe (22).